The Rise Of America's Lunatic Fringe

They are the moonbats, the wingnuts, the whackjobs, the Conspiratorialists. They are America’s new Lunatic Fringe, and their numbers are growing.

While the rise of the internet fed a segment of society that has always existed, when the cyberworld became an increasingly important source both of entertainment and information, an entirely new demographic joined what was already amongst us.

Who are they and what do they believe? The Lunatic Fringe is not uniform in either its background or beliefs. Some clearly seem to be emotionally disturbed. Some are racist and hateful. Others are simply naïve and gullible, or uninformed. Still more are frustrated by an economy and a government that are behaving out of whack with what most people expected from life and from leadership. They want to believe America stands for something noble, but it is increasingly felt by them that it does not. They are confused, frustrated, and disappointed. They feel violated and betrayed. They grow angrier by the day. Some harbor a diffuse rage which could blow at any time. Others have figuratively thrown in the towel and have joined the ranks of what are called Preppers and Survivalists.

Collectively, though individually they differ, the beliefs of the Fringe conspiracies behind the JFK assassination, the lunar landing, and 911. The collective also includes the Birthers, and believers in everything from FEMA Camps to chemtrails to that retro old favorite of Colonel Jack Ripper, fluoridation. The Fringe holds beliefs that have the world controlled variously by the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers, the Bilderbergers, Bohemian Grove, Skull and Bones, the Council on Foreign Relations, 33rd Degree Freemasons, the Vatican, the Queen of England, or just The Illuminati. Every event and every incident in the world is affected by some Master Plan carried out by whomever the believer chooses from the aforementioned gallery of rogues. For many, al Qaeda is really al CIAda, and the prime directive of that organization, along with all the other USG alphabet agencies, is to further the goals of the elite, usually through some “false flag” operation or “psy-op”, and funded through illicit drug sales.

Believers can “prove” each and every one of their claims via a series of cross-referenced and circular internet links, the source of many undoubtedly just someone’s fertile imagination, but very real to the believers.

To the uninitiated this all seems rather humorous, albeit slightly unsettling. It would be both wrong and unwise, however, just to slough it off as the ramblings of the insane. The reason such beliefs are gaining favor is because many Americans have lost faith and lost trust in the government and America’s elected leadership. Given what has happened over the last decade, this is not only understandable, it is even, in an odd way, reasonable. A continual drift to the fringe can be expected because of the many very real things that make the foolish things suddenly more believable.

Why have the people lost faith and trust? There is a host of reasons, perhaps beginning with the war of choice in Iraq and the vociferous and passionate claims of WMD that turned out to be false. That war cost lives, cost sympathy and diplomatic capital, and cost trillions even when America was told by former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz that the war “would pay for itself from oil sales” and that “Americans would be welcomed with garlands”. Neither was anything close to accurate. Instead the US has war dead, war wounded, a huge bill, fewer friends, and many more enemies.

What truly exacerbated the rush to the fringe were the Financial Crisis and the subsequent railroaded bailouts, which “democratic”America opposed to the tune of 97%, and which were, and still are viewed as rewarding the very people who caused the collapse. The oft-spoken official claims that “the taxpayer made a profit on the bailouts” just adds salt to the taxpayers’ wounds, as it conveniently fails to take into account the host of programs---from TALF to ZIRP to QEI, II, and III and Twist---that virtually handed the banks the money with which they could “pay back” the bailout cash.

America sees backroom deals and favors to insiders every step of the way, and rightfully so they see this, because that is exactly how the bailout was affected. No one had to pay for his mistakes, and equally significant, no one has been prosecuted despite overwhelming evidence of fraud, malfeasance, and corruption. Americans cannot help but subscribe to the cynical quip, “everyone is equal under the law, except for those who are above it”. Fines don't count, especially when the money to pay them comes right back through another door.

America's prisons are filled with people who did little more than use a banned substance. It's time some bankers and officials faced the possibility of similar accommodations, as their crimes are greater and victims substantially more.

The belief that all is not fair is further cemented when the Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer can be taped (PBS, “Frontline”) saying, "Well, I think I am pursuing justice. And I think the entire responsibility of the department is to pursue justice. But in any given case, I think I and prosecutors around the country, being responsible, should speak to regulators, should speak to experts, because if I bring a case against institution A, and as a result of bringing that case, there’s some huge economic effect — if it creates a ripple effect so that suddenly, counterparties and other financial institutions or other companies that had nothing to do with this are affected badly — it’s a factor we need to know and understand."

No matter how one parses that quote it still says the same thing: some are above the law.

The American people are well aware they have been lied to by the leadership. They know that a lobbyist has an infinitely greater chance of getting his way than an entire nation of voters. They know who pays the bills---the taxpayer---as well as who pays the politicians---the lobbyists. They see the Federal Debt ballooning to Greek-like proportions, and the best Congress can do, other than take vacation or kick the can, is to tell Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to “get to work, Mr. Chairman”, which means print more money, monetize the deficit, and further dilute the value of the dollar.

Even some people within the government are undoubtedly growing frustrated. Imagine someone in DEA, FBI, CIA, or the military, who sees the slap on the wrist fine handed to a certain non-US bank for a decade or more of drug money laundering and laundering money for Iran, some of which might well have found its way to Hezbollah or to parties aiding the Iraqi insurgency. There are people in Waziristan who face the wrath of a drone-fired Hellfire missile with less evidence to back up the attack. This bank, incidentally, received a $3.5 billion payment-in-full upon the US taxpayer bailout of insurer AIG.

When trust is gone, everything becomes an affront, a conspiracy, a power grab by the elite. The recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which gives the President incredibly broad powers, seems to obviate both habeas corpus and the entire Bill of Rights. When the trust is gone, people are less willing to believe that such a bill would never be used recklessly, or vindictively to put down vocal opponents of whatever Administration happens to be in power at the time. When trust is gone, the people question new efforts to alter the Second Amendment, even if many are personally outraged at the rash of gun violence that has come to epitomize the United States, so they rush to guns rather than run from them. When the trust is gone, the message of the Lunatic Fringe is afforded greater reception. When the trust is gone the Fringe grows into the mainstream. When trust is gone in some aspects of governance, all governance is questioned.

The government can no longer afford to ignore the Lunatic Fringe, because it is becoming less loon and more understandably and righteously indignant every day. The government did not create the Fringe, but through callous disregard, incompetence, blatant self-interest, cronyism, selective enforcement, and pandering to its financial support base, the government has fertilized the fringe until it has grown to redwood-like size. The nation's leadership is viewed not with respect, but with distrust. It is not the solution, but the problem. It has morphed from friend to enemy, at least for a not insignificant portion of the citizenry. The fringe is not going to go away, but instead it will grow. Its wounds will fester. It will continue to hammer away at an already fragile society. It may well lead to significant social unrest, even violence, and that violence is likely to be directed at those seen as responsible for the fiscal, financial and moral decay, which means the elite and the government that is seen as catering to it. New records in the Dow will not alter the focus, nor ameliorate the bubbling rage, even if the financial media or the Federal Reserve thinks it will. This growing demographic of citizens must have its concerns addressed before it is too late.

Woe to those who ignore it, because they will become the targets, rightfully or not.

To paraphrase a certain career New York Senator, “Mr. Government, get to work!” Or better yet, get out of the way.

It's no that there aren't more looney toons becoming more visible, but that it is hard to separate their beliefs from your own. For instance, I have friends that understand what is going on financially, but have very funny ways of reconciling how we got here. It's the core beliefs that make them fringe players, not what they say or think on the surface.

The city council of Welland Ontario just banned the injectiion of fluoride into city water supplies. After the decision they interviewed a Dentist who said he felt bittersweet over the decicision< which would be bad for the general public but would likely boost his income.

911 >>>> Regarding 911 Conspiracy Theories. I believe the 911 Conspiracy Theories ARE a Conspiracy Theory. I think the Government worked hard to foster the idea that the buildings could have been rigged to explode, in order to smear ALL people who suggested that the official story might not be true.

The fucktard who wrote it should go back to the drawing board and understand that the suspicions started with W and his "Patriot Act".

Obama has taken the game to a new level with the drone strikes and his personal kill lists.

The very stupid, and very uneducated American voter has allowed the past administrations to erode our civil liberties to the point that we are no longer American.

We've been dumbed down with nonsense toys, "given" cheap money to buy garbage food, gotten morbidly obese, all in the name of massive transfer of wealth from the public to the political/crony capitalist cabal.

Wrong! The suspicions started with the Federal Reserve Act, the Emergency War Powers Act (fka "Trading With the Enemy Act" that outlawed "hoarding gold"), then, staged moon landings, then we have Gordon Kahl, Ruby Ridge and Waco.

Osama did it with microwaves -yes from a cave-Dont underestimate Muslim terrorists. They infiltrated and took over the CIA years ago - Al Quada is not a Division of the CIA -its the other way around. Islofascists run this country - how do you think they got their boy Obama in ? Ever wonder about that? And yes Al Quada and Osama killed the Kennedys -they did it tit hrough time travel. It actually won't really happen until 2024 when the technolgy is perfected -with the help of alien technology-yes really -little green people with large heads and humongous brains. Watch the Terminator series and especially the Sara Connor Chronicles -the Second season -and it will all make sense.

On a serious note-Tyler's article , while good in many respects, is insulting and demeaning to people who are investigating and reporting real history. There is no doubt many of these "conspiracies" are real. Elites and powerful people do conspire to do bad things -not only to control and enslave the masses -but to themselves in their own power struggles. I expect a retraction or an apology. Tell us Tyler -was the NIST report on WTC7 seven years after the fact - something we should accept as true?

First, I'm a Ph.D. in engineering, well read in philosophy, science, etc. I used to be a sheeple who didn't believe in conspiracies but then I noticed that the government said there was no inflation but I was paying 10% more on my food. Hmmm. Then I noticed my currency was worth less across the border. Hmmmm. Then I noticed the fascist liar in chief was sayign one thing and doing another. Hmmmm.

And we had the 2008 melt down.

Now we have the Libor scandal.

Get your head out of your a** and look around retard. Go find your brain.

Way too many assumptions and incorrect name-calling. Why not stereo type Americans, Hispanics, or Muslims while we're at it? It is good to question things, the wrong part is denying proof. Take a look at a few 'wingnuts' to discover a lot of people who are seeking answers, not insisting on fantasy: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/

P.S. Wingnuts are very useful in the construction of a lot of equipment we rely upon on a daily basis.

Lol, i had read all the comments thus far and refrained from commenting, until you drop the bomb and linked abovetopsecret as a reliable avenue of investigation. I won't go into much detail but that is a hell hole of disinformation (and that means either 1. you are not deep enough down the rabbit hole or 2. you are trying to side track honest people with this bullshit).

I did not say it was a reliable source, please re-read my post but this time think about its subject. Hint: It's about prejudice. ATS is a good introduction for those who haven't previous exposure to conspiracy theories, not this xenophopic 'article'.

Besides all that, I have noticed a correlation to foodies being awakened. Knowing you are poisoned for corporate profits and the FDA is obviously paid off makes a person lose faith in the system too. I mean really, transfats are proven to cause harm at this point. They are not food, yet they are in the food supply. Once you understand that, some other conspiracies do seem more believable.

This and some similar "conspiracies" are actually the natural outcome of people with power avoiding the examination of inconvenient and unprofitable possibilities. They virtually never wish to harm someone, they just don't care enough to judiciously examine the possibility that they might be doing so. Kind of like the hunter who cracks one off at the gray spot they see through the bush, but it just happens to be the head of the friend they were drinking with that morning. That particular hunter may not be your enemy, but it wouldn't be paranoid to avoid hunting with him.

Little late to the party, this article is old so few will comment. If you want to see posters bashing "the fringe," particularly those of us who know 9/11 to be an inside job you should check out today's article on BigThink. I always like to read the other side on a daily basis, helps to understand the mindset of the enemy.

The dearly departed Gore Vidal grew up in the lap of luxury. Years ago in an interview, he said that "if you heard the way the wealthy talked among themselves about the common man, you would never vote for one of them." Some things never change.

Yet, Hillary recently said that "Public service is in my and Bill's DNA" - nearly barfed and shit in my pants over that one...

Is it too much to ask for a single fact/number/opinion poll that supports the basic premise of this op-ed? I still like some of the financial-related posts here but the op-eds range from mediocre to horrendous with too many in the later category.

This is a generally written attempt to apologize for federal government corruption. You are calling people who look at facts and derive a conclusion other than the one handed you by your media and slime-bag politicans the lunatic fringe? Get bent you fucking shill. For your sake - I hope the yoke of your bullshit and mental slavery is light upon your shoulders.

Perhaps you should have actually tried to absorb the point of the article. When the average person's social and economic situation is being destroyed before their very eyes, they will be susceptible to all kinds of bullshit.
How many times on these very threads to people imbed a YouTube clip to validate some bat shit crazy social or economic theory? For Christ 's sake, I can produce a YouTube video of a cat singing Happy Birthday.

We should all be very worried concerning the premise of this article. History shows that social and economic desperation leads to very bad outcomes.

I think it's time to bring back a kinder, gentler world domination scheme.

This model has gotton a bit...complicated.

I admit that a pile of thieving monkeys with hammers is a far sight less romantic vision than an ageless secret society of Bahomet worshippers pulling every string, but a Mafia with corporate logos and nice suits is still just a Mafia.

It just operates in a bigger neighborhood with a lot more capos, soldiers, and a law degree.

Love your comment Shovelhead. I don't really go for the whole "Aliens Masons Illuminati CFR Bilderburg BIS Rothchilds Fed Reserve Soros Koch Bros MIC Bohemian Grove thing" either. I just think the banksters and corporate elite control the governments of the world with few exceptions at this point, and that needs fixing.

Lol you would seriously have to be an idiot to believe the goverments version the "the JFK assassination" or "9/11"... There are certainly nutjob "conspiracy theories" out there, but claiming that there WASN'T a conspiracy surrounding the events of the JFK assaaination or that the government has told us the complete and unaldulterated truth about 9/11 is by this point in time reserved for the likes of sunday school teachers and MSM schills. The author of this article should pull the status quo dick out of his ass and open his fucking eyes.

Any respecting nut job (me included) has to disregard the beaten path of "general wisdom", else fail to the myriad of side tracks, false leads, desinfo, psy-ops, conditioning & all. The more fringe the theory the more likely to be true, even more so if not a lot of people are paddling it.

there is an element of Kaiser Sauzee in ZH: line up the usual suspects; all the while pouring oil on those very issues that causes the contrarian divide to go viral. The nutty brigade will often find solace here on ZH, just saying...

As the editorial content of ZH varies it feeds the eerie feeling of Jekyll and Hyde ism that permeates some of its posts...

On the market: How can you say that CB printing is Keynesian corpofascism and also say let the market solve itself, just stop government interference. No way; the minute government interference stops the systems collapses and ALL of the country's money pensions and salaries get sent to rot. Its ONLY strong government that can stabilise the institutions when the market goes to reset bigtime. The markets can't do that alone; remember 1929? THis time its WORSE, from that angle. But the libertarian ideology espoused will not accept that simple reality...So we cry about the debt soup per se, but without having a plan to save the innocent when it hits the country n world. Markets will never self regulate, forget it; thet leads to Oligarchy fascism. The job of government is to save those who have no say in this mayhem.

On the gun issue : Nobody on ZH will admit that the gun lobby is a BUSINESS first and foremost, an off shoot of the MIC type of mentaility for small, private family America. Its roots are so deep its more powerful than the labour unions. A lobby like this does NOT think of people's interest but its own...so the 2nd amendment argument is not the guiding spirit of this lobby that now controls this segment politically.

On the global finance issue : the only way out with least pain is to organise world wide banning of derivative soup and separation of investment banking from deposit; then to change the reserve banking rules and make the CB responsible to the people NOT to the private sector. Lastly, to ban ALL tax havens on the face of the earth and install that corporate taxes be paid there where the companies do business not in registered tax havens.

Lets get some method in this editing process on ZH. It would be nice for ZH to produce an editorial content that projects a coherent vision of its ruling body/minds. Or is that against Fight club religion?

chindik says our "lunacy" should be understood (and forgiven?) through the filter of our being dis-illusioned. Seemingly ignoring the reality of the dis-ILLUSIONment...that is, we are no longer suffering the ILLUSION.

Definition of ILLUSION
1
aobsolete: the action of deceiving b (1): the state or fact of being intellectually deceived or misled :misapprehension(2): an instance of such deception
2
a (1): a misleading image presented to the vision (2): something that deceives or misleads intellectually (2):hallucination 1 (3): a pattern capable of reversible perspective b (1): perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature
Fuck you chindik, you condescending prick.

Here is what I believe is the correct description of "conspiracies" in the financial and political realm from Charles Hugh Smith's Survival+:

The human mind harbors a bias for what I call independent agencies, a bias which finds full flower in conspiracies both real and imagined. Ancient humans saw an independent agency of fickle gods who punished or rewarded human supplication with drought or rain.

All human groups form loose confederacies, alliances and "secret societies" (such as cliques in high school) which outsiders rightly identify as conspiracies formed for the benefit of the members.

This bias to perceive independent agencies has a selective advantage: the ability to discern causal agents offers substantial advantages over a passive perception of chaos/randomness.

Why bring this up now? Only to note that The Plutocracy is not a conspiracy in the formal sense of a membership which gathers like the Bohemian Club or even an informal assemblage such as the Bilderberg Group. "Membership" is granted solely by great wealth and control of productive assets; political influence flows from that.

People who control, say, $100 million or more (via family ownership or managerial position) tend to meet one another socially or to do business, and while they jockey for advantage within a group like the rest of us, they form a small class of citizens possessing virtually unimpaired political influence.

Thus in describing a Plutocracy I am not positing a semi-formal conspiracy but simply a financial elite which controls some 2/3 of the productive wealth of the U.S. This is simply a statement of fact. Their collective self-interest is in maintaining the conceptual, legal and financial systems which enable their continued dominance of wealth and influence.

It is important to note this bias for independent agencies is founded both in our minds and in the real world. People with similar self-interests naturally band together in self-organizing networks and groups to protect those interests, and since information is power then the inner workings of various self-organizing groups are confidential as part of that self-protection.

Thus when I speak of The Plutocracy I refer not to a formal conspiracy with meetings and officers but to a self-organized Elite based on protecting their ownership of 2/3 of the productive wealth of the nation. As each acts to protect his/her wealth at the highest reaches of influence (tax shelters, tax breaks, legislative exclusions, legal rulings, etc.) then they are also acting to defend their class.

You have to admit the bullshit from the government is so out of touch that it might as well have been written by aliens. Or 3rd rate software foisted on idiots like Obama as expensive artificially intelligent. Chumps.

Wonderful. I would guess that your audience is ... to contine the saying "those that can't - teach" well those that can't teach - run for office and get elected. And I would speculate that john q does not like admitting that not only did he make a mistake in electing poli q, but he was duped. Nobody likes being duped and looking in the mirror and finding out that they aren't as smart AS THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE. But then what do I know, I have no formal training in anything, other than observing people.

I was interested to see that some comments suggested that this post in itself could be a conspiracy.

My first boss used to say that flower arrangers were the lunatic fringe of horticulture!

Conspiracy theories or not, the lies are in plain sight now. Time to stop arranging the flowers and grab your pitchfork? There has to be a better way, but sadly, I don't think anything can prevent the dangerous times ahead.